We went to visit Mr. Pink in the clinic today and while we were there he let the girls see a few patients with him. They thought it was the best day ever even though they had to see a little blood. As we were leaving he gave each of them some tongue depressors and gloves as their door prizes. We blew up their gloves, as always, and then I came up with the most clever idea. These will be my balloons for the little Pink's 4 year old birthday party at the end of the month. So if you ever do anything involving the numbers 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 this is a cheap and fast idea!

Guess what we are flying in the air today to North Carolina - what is up with you and I traveling so much, we never went anywhere when we knew each other.

If I could hang with you on your birthday today (too bad I can't because you are sitting on the beach in Hawaii!) this is what we would do.First of all I would make you awesome maple syrup Bacon that you taught Mr. Pink to make. Then I would tell you about these hilarious Bacon and Eggs band aids I found in Denver.

Then we would both put on our wonderful Lucy Workout clothes and say we are going to go for a walk, but then probably get distracted and decide to go to a book store. At the bookstore I would pretend to be interested in all those thick amazing books you read, but then we would eventually make it to the magazine section where we both feel equally comfortable.

A trip to Paper Source would have to be in order. And this time I would learn to respect your lovely appreciation for the beautiful paper by the piece. I would stand and look at it with you.then of course we would oohh and ahhh over all the gadgets!

Then I would remember to tell you about these funny mini tape guns that I found online, and I know you would love them as much as me!

I am sure the day would involve lots of eating - NO Veggies of course, but lots of Chewy Sprees.

then we would go spend hours in Textile Fabrics and I would beg for you to call Laurie and have her join us. We would both then joy in watching her touch all the fabrics and see what we all come up with in our heads to make. Laurie would buy fabric and make something, I would buy fabric and make nothing and you would be smart enough to save your money so that when go to this store you would freely buy whatever you want.

Then i would magically figure out how we could go to the Anthropologie store in New York City and see what awesome window display they have. We would then go inside and spend hours touching everything. We would both say we wish we were much skinnier so we could buy all the cute clothes in the store even though we look just fine and are being too hard on ourselves.

Then we would go to some Sprinkles Cupcakes location and you would tell me what to order since I have never been to one. I would have called them in advance and asked to cook one with a foil covered penny - just like you mom does. We would eat till we were sick and then be thrilled to go home put on our softest elastic waist pants and just rent a movie.

We would probably never start the movie because we would both want to see what treasures we have been collecting in our office supply drawer at home and enjoy looking through earmarked magazines that we have way too much of.

Then I would say goodbye and say see you next year. Then I would give you a pack of this gum because I know it would bring back awesome memories of your Dad!

or was it this gum. Either way you would appreciate me trying to remember.

Think::Happy President's Day. Hope you had a great day. This is where we went along with the rest of the families in the area. It was pretty crowded. We chose not to wait in line to see the awesome and incredible exhibit on President Lincoln, the little's were just not in the mood. I am thinking of going back by myself when they are all in school.Happy Birthday Mr. Washington and Lincoln!Pink::

As you know it was Mr. Think's birthday just before Thanksgiving. He was turning the big 39 and I really didn't want to invest in 39 candles. (I have so many boxes containing just a few mismatched candles in my kitchen drawer–it's hilarious) So I came up with this alternative.

It was nice, however, to just serve everyone their own personal stack with some ice cream on the side. The things sticking out of the center stack that you can't see very well are metal numbers. I think they are for labeling different cheeses at a wine & cheese tasting party but I liked the idea to use them as mature birthday cake hoopla. I got the cake stand awhile ago at TJMaxx and change the ribbon out to fit the color scheme. (I take that back –I could change out the ribbon. So far the black ribbon it came with has worked out just fine for all my partially planned out occasions. Just didn't want you to think I had become that persnickety. Ha!) For my last minute tablecloth, I just unrolled some IKEA wrapping paper I had hanging around down the center of the table. I loved just throwing it away when the party was over instead of worrying about getting chocolate stains out of fabric.

I was thinking you could also do this same thing with sheet cake to make little cakes for a wedding shower. Frost or maybe sprinkle some powdered sugar on top of the completed stack to dress it up. Little flowers or candies on top...oh the possiblilites!

(And I totally know what you mean about taking indoor night shots. They never turn out very well. Drives me nuts. But your Christmas tree shot is fabulous.)

Well, little CB turned 5 a few weeks ago. I have never in my life seen someone so excited to turn 5. This girl melts my heart these days. You know, as I have told you many times, that she has tried my patience more than any of my other kids. Her energetic spirit is now becoming fun and enjoyable. I thought I would share with you one of our family traditions. Peanut Butter messages are great for any holiday but especially fun on their birthday when they open the jar to smear peanut butter all over their chocolate chip pancakes (don't you love being friends with someone so healthy) and they open it to find their new number they get to claim all year!

Valentines is fun too!

Other fun birthday ideas we did that day....

The ride around the neighborhood with her birthday balloon tied to her bike and of course a crown!